Maggie Blue and the Dark World by Anna Goodall, review by Lynda Waterhouse

 

Many moons ago I visited a jeweller and had an ouroboros (snake biting its tail) ring made from Welsh gold and tiny chips of diamonds. It may communicate its magical power to me one day but, until then, I’ll just read about the magical ouroboros in Anna Goodall’s powerful debut novel, Maggie Blue and the Dark World.

The striking cover art by Sandra Dieckmann sets the scene of the two parallel worlds encountered in this dark tale. It also depicts the irascible old one-eyed wise-cracking cat, Hoagy, in his rightful place beside Maggie Blue.

Twelve year old Maggie Blue Brown sits at the centre of both worlds. She is highly attuned to people’s emotions and actions. At the start of the story she is deeply unhappy. She has been moved away from her home by the sea to the suburban drabness of West Minchin to sleep on a dusty sofa in her eccentric Aunt Esme’s poky flat. The ring belongs to Esme and is always on the fourth finger of her right hand. This ring curls around Maggie’s fingers and speaks to her in its sinewy sweet voice and guides her journey between this world and The Dark World.

Maggie’s mother is suffering from depression, her father has left home, and she is being bullied at her new school by a group of girls lead by the glamorous Ida. The only person at school to show an interest in her is the school councillor with the cold green eyes, Miss Cane.  Maggie is rightly suspicious of Miss Cane and can see unhappiness under the veneer of Ida’s successful life. Maggie may be feeling isolated and lonely but she has a rebellious streak. Despite it being forbidden, she walks through Everfall Woods and pursues her belief that she and Ida are kindred spirits. Soon Ida will be taken to the Dark World and Maggie will come to her rescue.

The Dark World is a frightening and puzzling place. Selfishness and greed have led to a climate of disaster. There is no authentic happiness. Eldrow, the ruler of Sun City is both seductive and terrifying. Maggie learns to appreciate the value of real happiness and compassion.

This story has a strong fast-paced action plot filled with real jeopardy and danger. It is beautifully written in the third person which gives it an epic feel. Hoagy is a wonderful comic cat creation. There is a strong emotional undercurrent to the writing that explores both the disconnect between humans and their environment and the struggle to find true happiness and meaningful friendships.

At the end of this part of the story Maggie turns her back on the Dark World and the ouroboros ring is locked away.  One day she will need it again to guide her. In Maggie Blue and The White Crow perhaps?

ISBN 978-1-913101-33-6

Guppybooks.co.uk